Gaspar van der Hagen

Gaspar van der Hagen or Gaspar Vanderhagen (circa 1700, Antwerp - 1769, York) was a Flemish sculptor and ivory carver. It is possible he should be identified with the ivory carver signing his works with the monogram G. VDR. He is only known for his work created during his stay in England where he was an assistant in the workshop of the prominent Flemish sculptor John Michael Rysbrack. He is known for his portrait busts and portrait medals carved in ivory.

Life Details about his life are scarce. He was likely born in Antwerp as he is known to have had sisters who lived in Antwerp and was recorded first in Antwerp. The year of his birth is not known but it is likely it was some time around 1700 as he was registered as a pupil in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in the guild year 1711–1712. In the Guild records his name is spelled Gaspaer Verhaghen and Gaspar Verhagen and it is noted that he is studying sculpture ('belthouwen' or 'beltsnyden') with Alexander van Papenhoven. His master was a prominent sculptor and architect in Antwerp. Van der Hagen may have continued to work in the workshop of van Papenhoven after his apprenticeship ended as he was never registered as a master in the Antwerp Guild. The Mr. Claessens referred to in the notice was likely the Peeter (Peter) Claessens who was registered as a pupil of Joannes (Jan) Veremans in the records of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in the guild year 1711–1712, the same year in which van der Hagen was registered as a pupil in the Guild records.

In 1747, the English diarist George Vertue noted that "Mr Vander Hagen. Sculptor works for Mr Rysbrack. has done several heads portraits in Ivory.—very well. but not meeting with propper encouragement did not continue". Vertue's notes show that he held van der Hagen in high regard.

Van der Hagen continued to reside with his master on Vere Street, Oxford Road until 1766. Four of his works were sold at the Rysbrack collection auction organized by Langford on 1 February 1767.

Van der Hagen left the workshop of Rysbrack and moved to York in 1766. He seems to have spent his final years in poverty as in 1768 he appealed to the Society of Artists for support. He received four guineas from the Society. He died in York in 1769. As he was a lifelong bachelor, his sisters Isabella and Catherine (Harman), both living in Antwerp, administered his estate. They organized a sale of his works on 17 April 1771. The catalogue of the sale referred to van der Hagen as the 'principal assistant to the late Mr. Rysbrack,' and listed for sale 'several fine heads and figures in ivory, basso relievos in marble, books of prints, &c'.

His small bust of the Duke of Cumberland (Victoria and Albert Museum, London) is a very secure, detailed and textured work made after a marble sculpture by Rybrack. It was made by van der Hagen around 1767. It is likely the ivory bust exhibited at the Free Society of Artists in 1767.